AKC Delegate Meeting Dec 14-15, 2009

Herding, Earthdog, Coursing Committee –

The Herding Advisory Council has had little feedback. It is planned, with minor additions, to be ready to present to the fancy soon. The plan is to notify all licensed clubs to look at the website and allow two months for response.
The Coursing Advisory Council had a question from the Pharoah Dog Club about how to determine BOB when there are multiple stakes.
The Endurance Dog Title passed the board and will be implemented March 1, 2010 and will be put on the HEC list.
The HEC Event Promotions for All Breed Clubs : A DVD to be made for education to interest all breed clubs in these events.
The HEC event software for event secretaries is planned to be available for review at the next HEC committee meeting in March 2010.
Status of the three sports:
Herding stats are up 8% in number of entries and up 16% in number of events.
Lure coursing, with six events outstanding, is up 4% in entries with 3% increase in events.
Earthdog stats are up 13%-up a total of 20 events.
A portal page for all HEC events- AKC would like info to post, such as carrying on the family tradition, generations in the same sport, even generations of dogs in the sport. Also any pictures that show a dog doing its natural work, such as a herding dog actually working on a farm or ranch-with the caption-“Now that’s a herding dog!”
A suggestion was made that perhaps specialty clubs could hold common events together. The suggestion was the Briard and Beauceron club could hold a herding trial together, for example, because alone, they could not fill a trial

Parent Club Committee--

The Parent Club Conference will be held either 8/22-24/2010 or 8/27-29/2010 in the Raleigh Durham area. The one hundred fifty dollar fee from the parent clubs covers the meeting rooms, transportation from airports, speakers.

The Code of Ethics of eighty seven clubs were reviewed, from the request sent to clubs to send them to the committee. Many commonalities were found throughout the codes-good conduct everywhere; care and condition of dogs owned; breeding and selling practices; AKC regulations stipulated; health conditions and screenings; breeding to the AKC standard; honest advertising, mentoring newcomers; contracts, permanent identification, prohibition of selling dogs to dealers or pet shops.

The Meet the Breeds held in October in New York at the Javits Center was very successful-with over three million people visiting or seeing it through the media. Ninety legislators visited the booths, so perhaps that may help in the future with legislation. A template for Meet the Breeds is being developed and another will be held in October 2010 at the Javits Center in New York, exact date unknown, depending on availability of Javits Center. The possibility of Meet the Breeds in other cities was discussed.

Tom Davies spoke regarding the Group Realignment process. The Board doesn’t intend to let it die. There has been much confusion and unanswered questions over it. The Board expects to postpone it indefinitely after the meeting in March.

DELEGATES CAUCUS- Tuesday, December 15, 2009
https://www.akc.org/about/delegate_meeting_minutes.cfm

Election candidates spoke about their credentials and vision for the AKC. Their comments appear on the above web site. Statements from each candidate will also appear in the next issue of PERSPECTIVES. These positions are for the class of 2014 and 3 will be elected. The five candidates are:

Dr. Carmen Battaglia-German Shepherd Dog Club of America
Charles Garvin-Marion Ohio Kennel Club
William Newman-Mastiff Club of America
Pat Scully-Obedience Club of Hawaii
Steve Gladstone-Reno Kennel Club

The financial report was given-revenue is down, expenses are down, and AKC expects to break even. Revenues is down 5.8 million which is 9%, registrations are down 3.7 million which is 13%. Pedigree sales are down 927,000; royalties down 658,000; publications down 495,000. Total expenses down four million; payroll and benefits are down 1.4 million, other expenses down 2.6 million. Investment gains are up 9 million or 18%. Investments in 2008 were a 17 million loss or down 28%.

Several measures were up for vote:

The bred by wording changes was passed.
The Grand Championship was passed with an amendment to let spayed/neutered veteran dogs at independent specialties be awarded the points if they won. The effective date will be the same day in May as point changes take effect.
The two Beagle field trial changes passed.
The plan to eliminate telegrams for notification was listed, will be voted in March 2010
The show veterinarians was listed and will be voted in March, 2010.

The next meeting will be held Tuesday March 9, 2010 at the Sheraton Hotel in Newark, New Jersey.

Respectfully submitted;

Carol Clark